The year might not be over quite yet, but I am already making a mental list of all the movies I have to look forward to. With some major franchises making a comeback and a couple highly anticipated adaptations on the way, 2026 is sure to be a year of high expectations and packed theaters. Here are five movies I am looking forward to seeing in the new year.
“People We Meet on Vacation”
Kicking off the year on a romantic note, Netflix’s “People We Meet on Vacation” will release Jan. 9. Adapted from Emily Henry’s romance novel of the same name, the Netflix film will follow Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Blyth), two best friends who took annual summer trips together until a falling out stopped everything short. Two years later, Poppy convinces Alex to take one more trip with her to try and salvage their friendship. What starts as a simple vacation becomes a trip down memory lane when the two travelers begin to realize there might be more to their relationship than friendship.
Both Blyth and Bader have starred in book adaptations before. In 2023, Blyth stunned audiences with his portrayal of Coriolanus Snow in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” And just a year later, Bader first popped up on my radar in her funny and heartfelt role as Lady Jane Grey in Amazon’s “My Lady Jane.” As a fan of both of their work, I am eager to see how the two actors do in a more contemporary role and, even if it’s releasing in January, I am excited for the summer aesthetic the show will bring.
“Scream 7”
Neve Campbell will make her return as final girl Sidney Prescott in "Scream 7," the latest installment in the "Scream" franchise set to release Feb. 27. This latest chapter of the slasher franchise will follow Sidney as she fights to protect her family from a new Ghostface killer targeting her daughter. She'll be forced to confront her trauma head on or risk losing the nice, quiet life she's spent years building. With familiar "Scream" stars, such as Matthew Lillard's Stu Macher, making a return to the series, "Scream 7" will hopefully revisit what made the original movies such a classic.
I like a lot of horror movies, but there are none I love quite as much as the "Scream" franchise. Not only was "Scream" the movie that introduced me to the horror genre, but it's become the film I judge every other slasher movie against when deciding if I like it or not. Though the series has become a bit predictable after six installments, I am excited to see what new and terrifying adventures this return to its roots will bring.
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come”
Hide-and-seek gets even more deadly in “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” the second film in the “Ready or Not” franchise scheduled to release in theaters April 10. Picking up just moments from where the first film left off, the sequel will continue to follow Grace (Samara Weaving) when she learns she’s now made it to the second round of the game she tried so hard in the first movie to escape. Now up against four rival families hunting her down, Grace must protect herself and her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton).
I never thought children’s games could be deadly until I saw the 2019 “Ready or Not.” Though not necessarily the scariest thing I’ve ever seen, the film was a fun watch. Weaving did a great job in her role as Grace, who I was rooting for the entire time. From the looks of the trailer, Weaving is bringing that same final girl energy to this upcoming movie.
“Supergirl”
In July of this year, James Gunn's "Superman" hit theaters and began a reboot of the DC cinematic universe. Now, Superman's famous cousin Kara Zor-El, otherwise known as Supergirl, will get her chance in the spotlight with Craig Gillespie's upcoming film "Supergirl," set to be released in theaters June 26. The film will follow Kara (Milly Alcock) after she teams up with Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) to take down the notorious villain Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). While "Superman" only drew inspiration from the comic's the upcoming "Supergirl" will be a more direct adaptation of Tom King's "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" series, which explores the darker side of the superhero and her story.
The official teaser trailer for “Supergirl” was recently released and I could not be more excited. While I have always considered myself more of a Marvel movie fan, Gunn’s “Superman” was a fun and exciting departure from what I have always considered to be a more needlessly gritty cinematic universe. While this upcoming “Supergirl” already seems to be a bit more intense than the 2025 film, I am excited to see what happens next, both for Kara and this new future for the DC universe.
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping”
When I wrote about Suzanne Collins’ “Sunrise on the Reaping” in December 2024, the book had been one of my most anticipated novels for the coming year. Now, almost exactly a year later, it’s not the book I am looking forward to anymore, it’s the film.
Set to release Nov. 20, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” will take place 24 years before the original trilogy and follow a young Haymitch (Joseph Zada) as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games. Though fans of the series already know how Haymitch’s story will end, this upcoming film will give audience members a glimpse into his origins and what made him into the character we know now.
As a longtime fan of "The Hunger Games" franchise, this movie may be one of my most anticipated films of the coming year. The trailer, which was released in November, only further confirms my confidence in the outcome of this movie. Though fans have almost a year to wait until "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" release, I know I will be counting down the minutes until I can see this film in theaters.
